Russian rallies urge Putin not to run again; dozens arrested

MOSCOW (AP) - Under the slogan "I'm fed up," demonstrators urging Vladimir Putin not to run for a fourth term rallied in cities across Russia on Saturday. Dozens were arrested in St. Petersburg and elsewhere.

The centerpiece rally in Moscow went peacefully, despite being unsanctioned by authorities. Several hundred people rallied in a park then moved to the nearby presidential administration building to present letters telling Putin to stand down from running in 2018.

But in St. Petersburg, Associated Press journalists saw dozens arrested. The OVD-Info group that monitors political repression relayed reports of more arrests in several cities, including 20 in Tula and 14 in Kemerovo.

Policemen detain a participant of an unauthorised rally in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, April 29, 2017. A poster reads 'Putin, you can retire!'. A few dozens protesters were detained by police in St. Petersburg during a protests called for by the opposition movement Open Russia to oppose president Putin's run for the 2018 presidential elections in Russia. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

Putin has not announced whether he plans to run for president again next year.

He has dominated Russian politics since becoming president on New Year's Eve 1999 when Boris Yeltsin resigned. Even when he stepped away from the Kremlin to become prime minister in 2008-2012 because of term limits, he remained effectively Russia's leader.

Nationwide protests on March 26 appeared to rattle the Kremlin because of the demonstrations' unusual size and reach. The predominance of young people in those protests challenges the belief that the generation that grew up under Putin's heavy hand had become apolitical or disheartened.

Saturday's demonstrations were much smaller, but indicated that marginalized opposition forces will continue to push.

The demonstrations were called for by Open Russia, an organization started by Kremlin foe Mikhail Khodorkovsky.

As an oil tycoon, Khodorkovsky was once listed as Russia's richest man, but his political ambitions put him at odds with the Kremlin. He was arrested in 2003 and served 10 years in prison on tax-evasion and fraud convictions that supporters say were political persecution. He was pardoned in 2013, left the country and revived Open Russia as a British-based organization.

On Wednesday, Russia's Prosecutor-General banned Open Russia as an undesirable foreign organization. But the group's Moscow branch says it is administratively separate and not subject to the ban.

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Irina Titova in St. Petersburg contributed to this story.

Policemen detain a journalist during an unauthorised rally in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, April 29, 2017. A few dozens protesters were detained by police in St. Petersburg during a protests called for by the opposition movement Open Russia to oppose president Putin's run for the 2018 presidential elections in Russia. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

Police officers stand guard at a square in anticipation of protests in downtown Moscow, Russia, Saturday, April 29, 2017. Regular police and riot police are positioned in central Moscow waiting for protests called for by the opposition movement Open Russia to oppose president Putin's run for the 2018 presidential elections in Russia. In the background, the monument to Cyril and Methodius, founders of the Cyrillic alphabet. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Police arrive at a square in anticipation of protests in downtown Moscow, Russia, Saturday, April 29, 2017. Regular police and riot police are positioned in central Moscow waiting for protests called for by the opposition movement Open Russia to oppose president Putin's run for the 2018 presidential elections in Russia. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Police officers cordon off a street at the presidential administration building during a protest in downtown Moscow, Russia, Saturday, April 29, 2017. Several hundred demonstrators are gathered in central Moscow, trying to move to the nearby presidential administration building to present letters calling on Vladimir Putin not to run for a fourth term in office in 2018. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Police block participants of an unauthorised rally in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, April 29, 2017. A few dozens protesters were detained by police in St. Petersburg during a protests called for by the opposition movement Open Russia to oppose president Putin's run for the 2018 presidential elections in Russia. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

Policemen detain participants of an unauthorised rally in St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, April 29, 2017. A few dozens protesters were detained by police in St. Petersburg during a protests called for by the opposition movement Open Russia to oppose president Putin's run for the 2018 presidential elections in Russia. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky)

Pro-Kremlin political activist Maria Katasonova, wearing a T-shirt with a portrait of president Vladimir Putin, speaks to journalists as she arrives to meet with opposition activist Maria Baronova before an unsanctioned protest in downtown Moscow, Russia, Saturday, April 29, 2017. Several hundred demonstrators are gathered in central Moscow, trying to move to the nearby presidential administration building to present letters calling on Vladimir Putin not to run for a fourth term in office in 2018. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Pro-Kremlin political activist Maria Katasonova, wearing a T-shirt with a portrait of president Vladimir Putin, arrives to meet with opposition activist Maria Baronova before an unsanctioned protest in downtown Moscow, Russia, Saturday, April 29, 2017. Several hundred demonstrators are gathered in central Moscow, trying to move to the nearby presidential administration building to present letters calling on Vladimir Putin not to run for a fourth term in office in 2018. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Opposition activist Maria Baronova, left, and pro-Kremlin political activist Maria Katasonova meet before an unsanctioned protest in downtown Moscow, Russia, Saturday, April 29, 2017. Several hundred demonstrators are gathered in central Moscow, trying to move to the nearby presidential administration building to present letters calling on Vladimir Putin not to run for a fourth term in office in 2018. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Police officers stand guard at a square in anticipation of protests in downtown Moscow, Russia, Saturday, April 29, 2017. Regular police and riot police are positioned in central Moscow waiting for protests called for by the opposition movement Open Russia to oppose president Putin's run for the 2018 presidential elections in Russia. In the background, the monument to Cyril and Methodius, founders of the Cyrillic alphabet. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Opposition activist Maria Baronova, center, speaks to the media as she arrives to take part in a protest in downtown Moscow, Russia, Saturday, April 29, 2017. Several hundred demonstrators are gathered in a Moscow park, trying to move to the nearby presidential administration building to present letters calling on President Vladimir Putin not to run for a fourth term in office in 2018. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)

Opposition activist Maria Baronova, speaks to the media as she joins a protest in central Moscow, Russia, Saturday, April 29, 2017. Police are positioned in central Moscow waiting for protests called for by the opposition movement Open Russia to oppose president Putin's run for the 2018 presidential elections in Russia. (AP Photo/Alexander Zemlianichenko)